Benjamin Hochberg is the District Attorney of New York City.
Biography[]
Investigating Poindexter[]
- "Fisk, Poindexter, it's all connected. It has to be."
"Matt, we have been through this. We dug. The DA dug. You have to accept it." - ―Matt Murdock and Cherry[src]
In the aftermath of Benjamin Poindexter's attack on Josie's Bar, which resulted in the death of Foggy Nelson and ten other individuals, District Attorney Benjamin Hochberg investigated into the matter to determine Poindexter's motive, including a possible connection to Wilson Fisk. However, he was unable to find any connections.[2]
Meeting with the Mayor[]
- "I'm really looking forward to meeting District Attorney Hochberg."
- ―Wilson Fisk to Sheila Rivera[src]
In late 2026, when Wilson Fisk became the new mayor of New York City, Hochberg was among those slated to meet with him during his first days in office.[1]
The People v. Hector Ayala[]
Initial Hearings[]
Hochberg arrives at Hector Ayala's hearing
- "The People are directed not to discuss or introduce any evidence of Hector Ayala's life as White Tiger or any acts of vigilantism."
"This is some bullshit, Jerry." - ―Jerry Cooper and Benjamin Hochberg[src]
Hochberg was assigned as a prosecutor for the trial of Hector Ayala, who was accused of attacking two New York City Police Department officers and causing Kel Shanahan's death. Arriving at New York State Supreme Court Building, Hochberg addressed Judge Jerry Cooper and requested for Ayala to be remanded without bail, given the significance of the charges. Although Matt Murdock from the defense's side attempted to object, Cooper granted Hochberg's notion and Ayala was detained at Rikers Island until the trial.
Hochberg and Matt Murdock argue about Hector Ayala being a vigilante
Before the trial commenced, it was revealed that Ayala was secretly operating as the vigilante White Tiger, so Hochberg and Murdock got summoned to the Judge's chambers to discuss how the case should proceed. Murdock claimed that Ayala's vigilante history had no bearing at the case and moved for the evidence to be suppressed, which Hochberg found ridiculous. Murdock noted that at the time of the incident, Ayala was not wearing his White Tiger Suit or his Amulet of Power, and insisted that discussing that would cause an unfair bias among the jury, but Hochberg claimed that Ayala being a vigilante spoke straight to the heart of the case. Hochberg said that if suggested a pattern of behavior that led to Ayala killing Shanahan, but Murdock was still able to convince Cooper to keep Ayala's vigilante history out of discussion during the trial.[1]
Trial[]
Hochberg gets a testimony from Connor Powell
- "These men and women you see sitting here, they're officers of the law. They took an oath to protect even in the face of danger. And every single day, these brave men and women show up to serve the people of this city, to serve you, to serve me, and they do all that without a mask."
- ―Benjamin Hochberg[src]
During the trial, Hochberg summoned Connor Powell as his witness, asking questions about Powell's history with the New York City Police Department and his friendship with Kel Shanahan. Hochberg then asked to describe what happened on the night of the incident and Powell claimed that during their usual patrol, Ayala approached them and attacked them out of the blue. Powell added that both he and Shanahan tried to get Ayala to stop, but he refused to listen and pushed Shanahan in front of the oncoming train. Hochberg punctuated Cooper saying that Ayala killed Shanahan like it was nothing, but Matt Murdock objected that it was a leading statement, which Jerry Cooper sustained.
Hochberg listens to Matt Murdock's cross-examination
Hochberg empathized with Powell losing his best friend and got him to describe how hard it was to cope with Shanahan's death, after which Hochberg had no further questions. Murdock then proceeded to cross-examine Powell, making comments about his black eye, and Hochberg objected to his comment, which Cooper also sustained. Murdock then questioned the validity of Powell's testimony and claimed that Nicky Torres was also present at the subway platform with him and Shanahan and that he would be giving his own testimony. Hochberg and the jury then listened to Torres' testimony, but he ended up corroborating Powell's statement and denied being involved. Murdock attempted to press Torres, claiming that he was at the station and got rescued from the officers by Ayala, so Hochberg objected again and Murdock had no choice but to withdraw the witness.
Hochberg threatens Matt Murdock
On the next day, Ayala himself testified and stated that he was actually saving Torres from Powell and Shanahan, and the latter's death was only an unfortunate accident that he did not cause directly. However, Murdock then suddenly revealed to the court that Ayala was White Tiger, much to Hochberg's anger as Murdock himself moved to suppress that evidence. As the courtroom erupted into chaos, both Hochberg and Murdock got summoned to the Judge's chamber, as Cooper was deeply displeased at a stunt that Murdock pulled. Hochberg was deeply frustrated with the hypocrisy that Murdock & McDuffie seemed to exhibit, but Cooper ruled for the trial to be continued as it is. Hochberg then told Murdock that after what he just did, he and every Assistant District Attorney under him would put an additional scrutiny on Murdock during any case he would take.
Hochberg tries to convince the jury in Hector Ayala's guilt
With the truth about Ayala coming to light, the court subpoenaed the people that White Tiger rescued and Kirsten McDuffie pulled up the NYPD reports about his heroics. Hochberg then addressed the jurors, claiming that even if Ayala was a good person, it does not absolve him from the fact that Shanahan died because of him. He then described in gruesome details how Shanahan would have died being hit by a train and said that Ayala should not be forgiven just because he did some good as well. He also pointed out that unlike Ayala, the police officers protect the people without wearing masks, meaning that Ayala had something to hide and thus, should not be trusted. However, the jurors still deemed Ayala not guilty on all counts, so Murdock and McDuffie won the trial and Ayala was a free man.[3]
Personality[]
- "I sit atop a pyramid of over 500 ADAs. You're not gonna be able to stumble into traffic court without one of them up your ass. I hope it was worth it."
- ―Benjamin Hochberg to Matt Murdock[src]
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Relationships[]
Family[]
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Trivia[]
- In the comics, Benjamin "Ben" Hochberg was the District Attorney of New York County who opposed both Matt Murdock and Daredevil in court.
